Rope gripping device



June 5, 1962 J. A. SOUKUP, JR

ROPE GRIPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1959 INVENTOR.

1 JOSEPH A. SOUKUR JR. m Mf ATTORNEY June 5, 1962 J. A. SOUKUP, JR 3, 3

ROPE GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. SOUKUP, JR.

X Mid/b ATTORNE! United States Patent tifice 3,037,463 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,463 ROPE GRIPPIN G DEVICE Joseph A. Soukup, Jr., 9418 S. 3rd Ave., Inglewood, Calif. Filed Jan. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 786,474 3 Claims. (Cl. 104202) This invention pertains to a device for gripping a rope, and more particularly to a device for holding a skiers rope tow.

A tow rope for skiers at a skiing slope provides a continuously moving endless rope extending from the bottom to the top of the hill. A skier grasps the rope while standing on his skis and the rope then pulls him up the bill. In being towed any distance, however, it becomes very tiring to hold the tow rope. Therefore, some efforts have been made in the past to construct mechanical gripping devices to assist a skier in holding to the rope. Generally, these devices have included some sort of clamping arrangement designed to provide a frictional connection with the rope. Such devices, however, are fatiguing to use offering little advantage in that respect over merely grasping the tow rope in the hand. Another problem with these devices is that they will not grip a moving rope. That is to say, it is necessary for the skier to hold on to the rope with one hand while he applies the gripping device with the other. No relative motion between the device and the tow rope is permitted. Even after this step is taken, the devices do not provide a tight gripping force without the exertion of considerable clamping force by the skier. In addition, many of these devices have cut and damaged the ropes when so used. Perhaps the most serious shortcoming of the devices which have been proposed is the difii'culty of releasing the gripping device from the tow rope. In other words, it takes definite action to remove the clamping device from a rope. In the event the skier stumbles or falls before releasing the gripping device, he may be pulled along by the rope beyond the point where release is desired. The possibility exists, therefore, that a skier may be dragged along by his gripping device and may be pulled into the pulleys operating the rope tow.

The present invention provides an improved automatically releasing rope gripping device having no moving parts, and which kinks the rope in two directions to provide the holding action.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a device for gripping a rope with a large force.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rope gripping device easy to use, which can be engaged with a relatively moving rope.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a rope gripping device which is simple to use, and which will automatically disengage arope when the operator of the device removes his hand therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for gripping a rope without causing damage to the rope.

These and other objects will become apparent from the 7 following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the rope gripping device of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the device as used in gripping a rope,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the use of the invention with a smaller rope, and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing the arrangement for carrying the rope gripping device when not in use.

With reference to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the rope gripping device of this invention includes a body 1 from which handle 2 projects angularly. Body 1 is adapted to receive a rope within slot 3. The slot is defined by bottom and top walls or flanges 4 and 5, respectively, projecting laterally from side wall 6 of the body. Flanges 4 and 5 include ends 7 and 8 which are axially displaced from each other and diametrically opposed. These ends preferably are beveled, tapering inwardly toward the center of the slot. In addition ends 7 and 8 are centrally recessed to define axially extending notches 9 and 10.

An opening 12 is provided in wall 6 which is enlarged at one end 13 to provide a recess, while the opposite end of the opening 14 is rounded where it connects to the exterior of the body. A cord or light rope 15 of suitable strong material such as nylon is received in opening 12, with knot 16 disposed in recess 13 for retaining one end of the cord in engagement with the body. The cord extends outwardly from the body over rounded edge 14 which prevents the body from cutting the cord. Cord 15 is relatively short, generally being in the neighborhood of one foot in length. The opposite end of the cord is suitably attached to a belt 17 which is worn by the skier.

In use of the device of this invention, the device is held with the handle 2 projecting upwardly and for wardly in the direction of movement of rope 18. This is the most effective position for gripping the rope, although considerable holding force is obtainable even if the handle is reversed. The rope is inserted into slot 3 of the body. With one hand the skier grasps the rope and the handle as well, pivoting the handle downwardly toward the rope as best seen in FIG. 5. This causes the flanges defining the bottom and top walls of the slot to react against the rope at their ends 7 and 8. The downward pivotal movement of the handle, therefore, kinks the rope in the vertical plane as the rope is bent between the axially displaced ends 7 and 8.

At the same time, an additional kink in the horizontal plane will be imparted to the rope. This comes about because handle 2 projects from wall 6 of the slot and is laterally displaced from the axis of the slot 3. This positions handle 6 at one side of the rope. Therefore, when the handle is pivoted downwardly as the skiers hand grasps both the handle and the rope, the handle will be pivoted laterally toward the axis of the rope. This imparts a sideways rotational motion to the device causing the body to bend the rope in the horizontal plane. Therefore, the rope is kinked in two directions by the device of this invention for obtaining an extremely high gripping force.

On top of this, there is an additional gripping action, which takes place because of the notched configuration of ends 7 and 8. When the body is pivoted by the handle the rope becomes wedged in the recesses 9 and 10 defined by the notched ends, so that a further gripping force is obtained.

It can be seen, therefore, that the device of this invention combines three gripping forces on the rope by the simple act of downward pivotal movement of the handle by the skier as he grasps the device and the rope. As a result, the device firmly holds the rope and requires very little exertion on the part of the skier in maintaining the device in engagement with the rope. The easy pivotal movement to engage the rope, and the high gripping forces obtained, allow the device to be hooked onto a rope which is moving relative to the skier. In addition, the simple bending and wedging action in holding the rope, plus the smooth contours of the body where it engages the rope, assure that no damage to the rope will occur.

spa /gees Release of the device is effected merely by pivoting the handle upwardly and removing the hand from the rope. Release is automatic if the skier takes his hand away from the device because all gripping forces are released when this occurs. Therefore, there is no danger resulting from the use of this device because the gripping force is automatically removed whenever the rope and handle are no longer held by the skier. This device, therefore, not only provides much greater holding forces, but also is perfectly safe in its operation.

The beveled surfaces 9 and are of particular importance when the device is used with ropes smaller than those indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. These bevels provide rope-engaging surfaces which will contact smaller ropes such as rope 19 seen in FIG. 6. For use with smaller ropes, the handle is pivoted downwardly a slightly greater amount to bring ends 7 and 8 into operative engagement with the rope, but the action is precisely the same as described above. Again the rope will be kinked in two directions and wedged within the notched ends of the body.

When the device of this invention is not in use, it is convenienty carried by inserting handle 2 through a loop included on belt 17 worn by the skier. This is not only a simple procedure for storing the gripping device of this invention, but it also places the device out of the way and in no respect hampers the movements of the skier. An important aspect of the invention in this regard is the curved construction of the device which means that it will not damage the skiers clothing when it is stored in this manner, nor is there any possibility of sharp edges injuring the skier in the event of a fall.

It is obvious that while the device of this invention is especially adapted for use by skiers, it is by no means limited to such use. Wherever it is desired to grip arope or other axially elongated member the device of this invention may be used to advantage.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rope gripping device for towing askier, comprising a body, said body having Walls defining a slot therein for lateral reception of a rope, said slot Walls having a forward portion for engaging one side of a rope so received and a diametrically opposed axially spaced rear portion for engaging the opposite side of such a rope, and a handle projecting from said body for providing means to pivot said body so as to grip said rope, said handle being disposed at one side of said body, whereby upon simultaneously grasping said handle and rope by one hand movement of said handle exerts a force tending to twist said rope in two directions, and a flexible tension element attached to the body adjacent said slot.

2. In an apparatus for use by a skier for establishing a towing engagement with a moving tow rope, the combination of: a belt adapted to be worn by the skier, a clamp engageable with the moving tow rope and a tension line connecting the clamp to the belt, the clamp having a body provided with walls forming an open slot whereby the body may be applied laterally to the rope, a means on the body adjacent the slot for attachment to said line and a manually graspable handle on the clamp extending forward from the body and being movable vertically and laterally into contact with the rope to clamp the rope between said walls whereby upon release of the handle the tension in said element is effective to release the clamp from said tow rope.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said walls include oppositely extending projections defining notches for lateral reception of the tow rope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,491 Cooke May 4, 1937 2,217,946 Dondero Oct. 15, 1940 2,473,300 Puricelli June 14, 1949 2,617,363 Anktell Nov. 11, 1952 

